S.O. 3272(E).- Whereas the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), made the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the said Order) with effect from the 15th February. 2014 for the purpose of carrying out modifications and amendments in all existing rules regulating the filing of property returns and making of declaration of assets by public servants so as to bring them in conformity with the provisions of the said Act. within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into force, i.e., the 16th January, 2014;

The General Manager (P),
All Zonal Railways/Production Units/Chairmen/RRBs.

Sub: Minimum educational qualification
for open market recruitment to various posts on the Railways.

The issue of enhancement of minimum qualification from Matriculation to
12th (+2 standard) to various posts on the railways which presently have
minimum entry qualification of Matriculation in Pay Band-1 of Rs. 5200-20200
having Grade Pay of Rs. 1900, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 2400 has been under
consideration of this Ministry.

Monday, December 22, 2014

It looks as if there is scarcely any curiosity among Central Government employees to know about the next DA hike percentage. With just about everybody trying to predict the percentage hike, the topic has lost its novelty. Moreover, with DA increase not amounting to anything much, the curiosity to know has also nosedived.

Though the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for implementing the one rank-one pension scheme for defence personnel, a working group chaired by the Controller General of Defence Accounts has failed to provide a roadmap for scheme implementation.

Much to the relief of nearly 25 lakh ex-servicemen, including 12 lakh soldiers who are protecting this sovereign nation, the final decision on the One Rank One Pension demand will be announced in a month or two.

According to reliable sources of information, Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar has given the assurance and that steps in this regard have already been taken. The fact that the Ministry is working overtime to enforce this scheme has brought cheers to serving armymen all over the country. They can rest assured that the scheme, which was being talked about for a number of years, will finally be implemented this time.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Details of benefits provided to the civilians working in the Defence sector are annexed.

From time to time Defence Civilian employees have been raising the demands that they should be granted Field Area allowance and Modified Field Area allowance as applicable to the Service Personnel and for providing other allowances like Aeronautical Technical Allowance, Airworthiness Certificate Allowance, Flight Charge Certificate Allowance etc. at par with technical defence personnel. It has not been found feasible to accept these demands as the job requirements and service conditions of Service Personnel and Defence Civilian employees are totally different.

Subject : Alteration of date of birth of a Government Servant — reiteration of the instructions.

Rule 56 of Fundamental Rules states that except as otherwise provided in the rule, every Government servant will retire from service on the afternoon of the last day of the month in which he attains the age of sixty years.

Why are central government employees so keen to know about the interim report?

A few months ago, excitement was sparked by an opinion expressed by the Karnataka Pensioners Association’s chief, Ramnath Rao, after his meeting with the members of the 7th Pay Commission.

He said that the chairman of the 7th Pay Commission had told him that an interim report would be presented only if the Government gives its direction.

Last month, on the 25th, the Ministry of Finance presented a written reply to a question raised during the Parliamentary session. The reply stated that the Government had given complete autonomy to the Pay Commission to function without any interference from them. The Commission has, until now, not presented any report to the Government. And, as stated in the Terms of Reference, the Commission will submit its report to the Government within the stipulated time.

For a few weeks now, reports have been surfacing that the Centre is giving serious thoughts about reducing retirement age of Central Government employees from 60 to 58.

The truth behind these series of rumours couldn’t be found yet. There is no official sand on this either.

The news was first published by popular English daily newspaper. Without any official source to confirm it, the article analyzed the issue from various perspectives. It was presented in a manner that was acceptable by most.

Please refer to item No,1 under the heading ‘Education’ of Board’s letter cited above, where under the scheme of scholarship for higher Technical/Professional Education @ Rs. 1500/- per month is applicable for wards of railway staff in Grade Pay of above Rs. 2400/- and up to Rs. 4200/-.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Once upon a time, Dearness Allowance calculation method and formula was very difficult for Central Government employees and Pensioners. And, some of few administrative staff and employees only to predict the Dearness allowance and Dearness Relief before the authentic announcement of Cabinet Committee with the help of calculation formula. ‘Swamy’s News’ books, one of the fantastic way to know the increasing in DA and DR for all. Even the publication releasing the book by monthly edition, more than three decades ‘Monopolize’ news magazine among Central Government employees. Still every unionist is getting knowledge on service matters through these publication books continues.

This undersigned is directed to say that Rule 3 of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 has been amended vide G.S.R. No 845(E) dated 27th November, 2014 to incorporate the expected standards of the civil services and provide for accountability of civil servants to ensure good governance and better delivery of services to citizen. The above said Notification is also available on the website of this Department at www.persmin.gov.in/DOPT.asp

The treatment of children with Cancer in various Government Hospitals is either free or subsidized both for the Central and State Government Hospitals. Cancer can be diagnosed and treated at various levels in the Government health care system. Hence the number of such facilities for the States is not centrally maintained.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

A popular English daily reported on the 28th of last month that the Central Government is giving serious thoughts about reducing the retirement age of its employees. The news has created a big buzz among the employees working under Central Government.

It was said that the proposal is part of the Government’s strategy to reduce non-plan expenses. It was mentioned that a senior official said that the move will help giving employment opportunities to new people under the new recommendations to be suggested by the 7th Pay Commission.

Subject: Terms & Conditions of Online Booking of Accommodation of Holiday Homes and Touring Officer’s Hostels under Ministry of Urban Development/Directorate of Estates.

It has been decided to commence online payment of online booking of accommodation of holiday homes/touring officers’ hostels/guest houses w.e.f. 1st December, 2014 and accordingly, Terms & Conditions for the same has been laid down as follow:

JCM National Council Staff side organisations will be organizing a National Convention of all Central Government Employees at New Delhi on 11.12.2014. Railway. Defence and Confederation will participate in the convention. Convention will adopt a joint declaration on future course of agitational programmes on the following demands of the Central Government Employees.

Provision/augmentation of amenities at stations, including those for differently abled passengers is a continuous process. Short term facilities like standard ramp for barrier free entry, earmarking at least two parking lots, non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to building, signages of appropriate visibility, at least one toilet (on the ground floor) & at least one drinking water tap suitable for use by differently-abled persons and ‘May I help you’ Booth, have been planned at all stations beginning with ‘A1’, ‘A’ and ‘B’ category stations. Long term facilities viz. provision of facility for inter-platform transfer and engraving on edges of platform, are planned after provision of short term facilities. Instructions also exist for provision of wheel chairs at stations. This facility is provided, duly escorted by coolies (on payment) as per present practice. ‘Battery Operated Vehicles for Disabled and Old Ages Passengers’ have also been provided free of cost at some of the major railway stations.

Under the “Digital India Mission” Government of India has launched a Jeevan Pramaan application on 10.11.2014. the facility provides an option to a pensioner to give his lifr certificate remotely through the Jeevan Pramaan portal (https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/). Aadhaar Number is used for authentication of pensioners. As a result of this facility the pensioner is not required to present himself before his pension disbursing agency or produce other documents that he is alive.

The
Government has not undertaken any comparative study to examine the efficacy of
the National Pension System (NPS) (earlier known as the New Pension Scheme)
vis-à-vis the odl defined benefit scheme.

However, the NPS has launched based on the need for pension reform felt by the
Government of India in the year 2003, to meet obligations related to pensions
in a sustainable manner. The NPS for government employees is conceived on sound
principles involving regular contributions by the employee and the Government,
and prudent investment of the corpus under regulatory supervision.

Officers in the Armed Forces are selected primarily through All India open competition. Recruitment of Other Ranks (ORs) in Army is carried out through Open Recruitment Rally System being conducted regularly throughout the country. Efforts are made to cover entire country including remote and tribal areas. In Navy, regular recruitment drives are undertaken, covering all States / regions for recruitment of sailors. Recruitment of Airmen in Air Force is on all India basis through scheduled selection tests. In addition, recruitment rallies are also conducted in different parts of the country including tribal areas to provide opportunity to youth from these areas to join the Armed Forces.

No agreement has been signed by the Government with other countries relating to FDI in Defence sector. However, in pursuance to the Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and Russia signed in February 1998, a Joint Venture Company, BrahMos Aerospace, between the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia has been formed for design, development, production of a Supersonic Cruise Missile.

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 mandates that every public servant (as defined in the Act, which includes Ministers, Members of Parliament, Government employees, employees of statutory bodies, PSUs, etc.) shall make a declaration of his assets and liabilities as well of his spouse and dependent children in the manner as provided by or under the said Act. In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (k) and clause (l) of sub-section (2) of section 59 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), read with section 44 and section 45 of the said Act, the Central Government has notified the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014 in the official Gazette on 14th July, 2014, which, inter alia, contain the forms in which such information/return is required to be filed.

In accordance with the existing instructions, the payment of a portion of death gratuity could be made to the guardian, in the absence of a natural guardian, without production of a guardianship certificate. As per the existing orders, an amount of Rs.10,000/- (or the first Rs.10,000/- where amount exceeds Rs.10,000/-)in favour of a minor could be made to his/her guardian, in the absence of a natural guardian, without production of a formal guardianship certificate but subject to production of an indemnity bond.

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

As per information received from various Ministries/ Departments till date, the representation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), as on 01.01.2013, in 69 Central Government Ministries/Departments was 5,23,721 which is 17.74% of 29,52,080 employees.

The reasons for lower representation of Other Backward Classes in services are identified as under-:

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

The Ministry of Rural Development is administering National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna. These Schemes are for the households living Below Poverty Line (BPL). Under these schemes pension/assistance is provided to the eligible BPL households on fulfilling the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Government.

A high level Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary to Prime Minister was constituted in October 2006, to carry forward the dialogue with the Industry on Affirmative Action, including reservation in Private Sector. The Coordination Committee is serviced by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The Coordination Committee has been holding meetings with the apex Chambers from time to time. The Industry Associations viz. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have developed their respective Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC) for member companies wherein stress has been laid on equal opportunities in employment for all section of society, removing bias in employment to disadvantaged sections of society, increasing employability of socially disadvantaged sections through skill upgradation, continuous training and providing scholarships. The details of the actions taken on Affirmative Action in the Private Sector in respect of three Industry Associations as provided by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is as follow:

In May 2001, the Defence Industry sector, which was hitherto reserved for the public sector, was opened up to 100% for Indian private sector participation with FDI permissible up to 26%, both subject to licensing. Vide Press Note No.7 (2014 Series), Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry has raised the FDI limit in Defence Sector up to 49% through FIPB route and above 49% through Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on case-to-case basis, wherever it is likely to result in access to modern and state-of-the-art technology in the country. FDI limit of 49% is composite and includes all point of foreign investments i.e. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Foreign Institutional Investors (FII), Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), Non Resident Investments (NRIs), Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) and Qualified Foreign Investors (QFI).